Mercedes Anne Hammond nee Rinkle, age 86, died at home after a protracted illness on June 9, 2017 in Traverse City, MI.
Mercedes was born in Dimondale, MI on Feb. 18, 1931 to Zella Flora (Miller) Rinkle and Ross George Rinkle. She was predeceased by her husband of 64 years, Lloyd Lyna Hammond in 2012. She is survived by her children, Valary Anne (Hammond) Schroeder of Bellaire MI, Vikki Lynne (Hammond) Scull of Naperville IL, and Lloyd Lee (Lee) Hammond of Dimondale MI. She is also survived by her 9 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren as well as her sister, Janice (Rinkle) Campbell of Charlotte MI.
Mercedes was graduated from Dimondale High School in 1949 as valedictorian of her class. She and Lloyd resided on their farm near Dimondale for 10 years before moving to a home in East Lansing in 1960. They resided in their East Lansing home for over 40 years until they moved to Traverse City in 2008.
During her years in East Lansing, Mercedes worked extensively as a volunteer for the Girl Scouts, first as a troop leader, then as a camp director, and eventually as a regional director. After her children were grown she took a job with East Lansing State Bank as a teller and branch manager.
After selling the farm, Mercedes and Lloyd began a new business as distributors of automotive supplies in Michigan where Mercedes served as President and office manager. They ran that business until 2004 when they finally retired for good. They spent several of their retirement years wintering in Mesa, Arizona.
Per Mercedes wishes, she will be cremated and her ashes will join Lloyd's at the family farm property in Dimondale, now owned by her son, Lee, who runs Hammond Farms from that location.